From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordAmousia means lack of musical cultivation or skill; a failure in the art of speech and song.
- In LysisSocrates calls it πολλὴ ἀμουσία when speeches and songs make the beloved wild instead of charming him.
- Reading contextTranslate with room for “uncultivated ineptness,” rather than supposing that Socrates has measured Hippothales’ ability to stay in tune.
- A place to readThe Greek example means “a great lack of musical cultivation.”
- English renderings
- Lack of musical cultivation or skill; a failure in the art of speech and song
Meaning
Lack of musical cultivation or skill; a failure in the art of speech and song.
Grammatical category: noun, feminine.
Use in the book
Socrates calls it πολλὴ ἀμουσία when speeches and songs make the beloved wild instead of charming him. The word’s musical coloring matters because Hippothales has been composing and singing, but its criticism extends beyond technical execution.
The performance fails to understand or achieve its appropriate effect. The next argument makes the poet’s self-harm evidence against calling him good at his craft. Translate with room for “uncultivated ineptness,” rather than supposing that Socrates has measured Hippothales’ ability to stay in tune.
Places to read
- 206bπολλὴ ἀμουσία — a great lack of musical cultivation.